Destefano: `Smart Growth' Will Fight Sprawl

Saying the state is threatened by sprawl, Democratic gubernatorial challenger John DeStefano will present a plan today for ``smart growth'' to prevent farms and fields from being plowed under and replaced by shopping malls.

DeStefano will travel to Glastonbury to announce his eight-point plan, which is tied to his proposals for property tax relief, transportation improvements and farmland protection.

``Glastonbury is ground zero for sprawl and the need for smart growth,'' said Derek Slap, DeStefano's campaign spokesman. ``In a community like Glastonbury, it's a huge issue.''

Known for its open space, Glastonbury will be celebrating its annual Apple Harvest Festival today on Hubbard Street, where DeStefano will make his announcement.

Stopping sprawl is impossible without first controlling property taxes, DeStefano says. That's because the need for more revenue drives towns to allow extensive development in return for the property taxes that fund the school budget and other needs, he says. DeStefano points to Canton as a poster child for sprawl -- where a golf course along Route 44 was paved over to form a huge shopping area that now includes a department store, a supermarket, restaurants and multiple clothing stores.

As chairman of a special blue-ribbon commission on smart growth in 2003, DeStefano has talked about the effects of sprawl and the proper developments that should take place in the cities and the suburbs.

Sprawl and smart growth have become an issue in the governor's race.

Less than 10 days ago, Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell presented her smart growth plan by creating a new state office to help control ``rampant, ill-conceived'' development that she said is threatening the character of Connecticut communities.

By executive order, Rell created the Office of Responsible Growth, which will coordinate the state agencies that oversee land use and attempt to stop the spread of suburban sprawl. The new office will operate within Rell's budget office, and she hopes it can be handled by the existing staff.

DeStefano's plan calls for:

Creating targeted growth areas and then funneling state money to help develop those areas.

Putting projects to a regional vote so residents can decide whether the state should subsidize projects such as convention centers or sports stadiums in their communities.

Encouraging cooperation among towns by strengthening regional planning organizations and councils of government.

Providing training in ``smart growth'' measures for decision-makers at the local and state levels.

Expanding the capacity of the Metro-North Commuter Railroad and constructing the long-stalled busway from New Britain's Main Street to Hartford's Union Station.

``Ballparks, hockey rinks, and convention centers are not an urban development policy,'' DeStefano says in his plan. ``State government should work with municipalities to work on sustainable redevelopment that draws on the unique character and strength of each community, and not rely on `home run' projects that have no connection to the rest of the city.''